Tag Archive: corporate media

For most of America’s history, one of the most righteous anti-white supremacist tactics available was looting.

As protests in Ferguson continued unabated one week after the police killing of Michael Brown, Jr., zones of Twitter and the left media predominantly sympathetic to the protesters began angrily criticizing looters. Some claimed that white protesters were the ones doing all of the looting and property destruction, while others worried about the stereotypical and damaging media representation that would emerge. It also seems that there were as many protesters (if not more) in the streets of Ferguson working to prevent looting as there were people going about it. While I disagree with this tactic, I understand that they acted out of care for the struggle, and I want to honor all the brave and inspiring actions they’ve taken over the last weeks.

Some politicians on the ground in Ferguson, like alderman Antonio French and members of the New Black Panther Party, block looting specifically in order to maintain leadership for themselves and dampen resistance, but there are many more who do so out of a commitment to advancing the ethical and politically advantageous position. It is in solidarity with these latter protesters–along with those who loot–and against politicians and de-escalators everywhere that I offer this critique, as a way of invigorating discussion amongst those engaged in anti-oppression struggle, in Ferguson and anywhere else the police violently perpetuate white supremacy and settler colonialism. In other words, anywhere in America. (more…)

DURHAM — On Saturday, members of the National Guard arrived at the armory off North Duke Street in Durham to find it locked and vandalized.

A group that identified its members only as “some Bull City anarchists” glued five sets of locks on the armory’s fenced lot to interrupt traffic flow and chained the front doors of the armory shut. Officers from the Durham Police Department responded at 6:41 a.m. on Saturday, said spokeswoman Kammie Michael.

The vandals’ hope was to disrupt the National Guard’s weekend operations, according to an anonymous message sent to The Herald-Sun and posted on anarchistnews.org.

The anarchists also left a message in red spray paint on the front of the building: “Disobey orders. Solidarity with Missouri Rebels. (Expletive) the Police.”

Lt. Cl. Matt Devivo, director of public affairs for the North Carolina National Guard, said the weekend drill was not disrupted, and that safety and operation are the National Guard’s top priorities.

“We definitely take it pretty seriously and are working with the Durham Police Department on the investigation,” said a representative at the armory.

Devivo said that the armory had the equipment on hand to remove the locks and clean up glue that was poured into keyholes.

In the anonymous message, the vandals said that their actions were to support rioters in Ferguson, Missouri, after the National Guard occupied the town in the wake of the shooting death of Michael Brown.

The group also had a message for the National Guard in Durham.

“To those of you who train at this facility,” the anonymous email said, “we would encourage you to think now about what it would mean to fire on your own neighbors and community members. … Which side are you on? If it was your son or daughter murdered by the cops, what side then?”
Devivo said he had no comment about the message in the graffiti across the building and that the Police Department’s investigation was ongoing.

“We’re going to support (the police) in any way that we can,” he said.

Prisoners in three different state prisons think it is time they get paid for doing kitchen work, laundry and maintenance tasks. In protest of not being paid for institutional work, some have refused to report for work at three different facilities since the weekend.

The inmates are also seeking better living conditions and a revamping of the parole system. They said prisons are too overcrowded. State prisons are operating at almost double the capacity they were built to hold. (more…)